~ (Third POV) ~
While Oberon is currently in the dungeon helping Artemis and Iduun Familia members get stronger, there is a large movement happening on the border between Rakia and The Elven Kingdom. The border itself is found northwest, close to Alicia's home, the 'Fanache Village', and other nearby small villages. Knowing the incoming war, King Larfal starts to give an order to the civilians to evacuate to a much safer village.
The northwest border is made up of most of the old, tall trees with an average of eight meters tall, and the oldest are found far from the edge and could reach up to twenty-four meters tall. The main danger was that there were a small number of goblins and kobolds roaming around. The forest was not only the main natural barrier of protection, but there was a mountain range that protected most of the forest from the chilly wind from the north and, at the same time, protected the Elven Kingdom from unwanted outsiders, however.
"BURN ALL OF THE BUILDING!"
Every night a small raid group of Rakkia soldiers burned the small elven village to their frustration; they could not find any civilians to take to sell as slaves, knowing that the elves in the slave market had value reaching a million Valis. The royal soldiers tried to defend the small village as best they could; however, they were powerless against the enemy's new magic sword that could shoot random magic element projectiles that decimated their defensive magic.
"*ugh* your filth, stay away!"
The sole survivor of the seven elves lay immobilized due to the injury. The girl just put her hand and tried to protect the injured while she felt fear from the animal gaze of the soldier, who took a step closer toward her with a creepy laugh. Just before they touched her, the elf shut her eyes, and at the same time, she heard a noise that was like a broken branch of tree.
(Slash!)
She could clearly hear a fruit falling off the trees, and all went silent for a second.
((Hi Hiiiii!))
To her surprise, she heard the soldier who laughed hysterically change to a scream of fear. Before she started to open her eyes, there was a person she just felt a presence behind her.
"Do not open your eyes. You will not please of the sight."
Her kind and gentle voice gave the elf a small reassurance to keep her eyes closed. What she heard next was like someone just like someone cutting a tree. In a matter less than a second, the screaming soldier started to subside and was completely gone, the same as the heat she felt from the burning building was completely gone from her senses.
"You can open your eyes now."
When the elven girl opened her eyes, everything went silent, and the fire that burned the home and their watch tower was already put out, and the scattered injured elven soldiers all gathered in front of her.
Hyrmr came with reinforcement; seeing the scene, they were all dumbfounded to not see the expected enemy.
"Take the wounded, and you explain what happened here."
As Hyrmr tried to learn what happened, she was observed by a shadowing figure watching high above the trees a dark and white-haired girl wearing a fox mask covering the top part of her face, and what she showed from her lips was undoubtedly a smile before disappearing at the same time the sunlight almost touched the shadowing figure.
----
King Larfal called one and a half thousand strong royal soldiers to defend against the Rakia incoming attack and sent his right hand, Hyrmr, and Oberon Father Levos to lead a thousand strong elves who were willing to give their lives to defend their homeland. The royal soldier is made mostly by an archer, and a small number of spearmen and mages considered this fight much more difficult, knowing from the information they had.
Rakkia is a country that made most humans their population of five hundred thousand or more living citizens. Their citizen had a conscription system for their citizen, and their soldiers all received the blessing from the god Ares, while the elves did not have such an advantage; however, their magic was still so far advanced that Rakkia was powerless against them.
The fortress was made of wood, but it was not ordinary wood; it had the nature to resist any kind of fire, even magic, but it was destroyed by the dwarf with a powerful explosion in the past war. Could hold thousands of soldiers inside and all the needed resources for war.
(("Hyrmr-sama has RETURN!"))
Hyrmr, as the leader of the group, came back to the main base with the wounded soldier, and the soldier started to gather, but before she explained anything to her soldier, Hyrmr started to shout.
"HEALERS!"
The woman shouted at the same time the healer rushed to tend to the wounded. From the look alone, everyone understands there is no way to negotiate with the enemy and a war will come.
"Levos?"
When Levos gazed toward the Hyrmr, he could see the endless night of fighting start to get told on her.
"Hyrmr, are you okay?"
"I am fine, Levos. That bastard tried to wear us down."
The endless fights at night indeed take effect on Hyrmr. From how she looked alone, it was amazing that she was still standing, but it was not her first time facing such a tactic of the enemy before.
"You need to sleep, Hyrmr. From what I saw, they are already starting to retreat."
"It is already morning. I do not want my soldier to think I am starting to get slack."
Levos then went to take something out of his pocket and handed a small bottle filled with dark pills. It was one of the medicines to help stay awake—a medicine that Oberon made just for his father.
"Just swallow two pills; it will help you concentrate better. Though there is a side effect."
Without hesitation, Hyrmr takes two and swallows it.
"*gulp*, thanks, you Levos. I feel... much more awake than before."
"Just remember, when you wake up from later sleep, there will be a terrible headache."
"That was a light price to pay if I could decrease the number of people who will die in future wars. I am sorry that I cannot even catch what they look like. Just as we arrive, they just vanish instantly without leaving a footprint or the body of the soldier."
"Then I had to conclude that whoever is helping us does not want to appear themselves in front of us for unknown reasons."
There is already a rumor that spread that there is an unknown spirit that is helping the soldier every night, and to be honest, Levos and Hyrmr seem to think it is possible, but then another question appears in his mind: why now?
"*sigh* At least I can breathe easily now, and it seems it gave a boost of morale among the soldiers."
Hyrmr, then gazing toward the healing, tried to tend the wounded soldier with a worrying gaze.
"The information is right, Levos. They had a powerful magic weapon that was far more powerful than we had met before. I hate to admit it, but there will be a huge casualty on our side."
"Hyrmr…"
It is not the first time Levos and Hyrmr have been faced with an enemy with a new type of weapon to be used against them; however, they both know it always will be a huge casualty of our side first before we are able to defeat the enemy—something that both of them never could get used to no matter how hard they both tried.
"I will try to devise a plan to counter that hurdle. Remember that King Larfal told us that we had our eyes and ears inside Rakkia so we would not be caught off guard? Unnecessary distress will affect our soldiers, so keep your chin up, Hyrmr."
At times like this, Hyrmr always could rely on Levos. Repeatedly, he always looked at the bright side, even in any dire situation, and he was willing to do anything to minimize casualties on our side, even if he was willing to ask Oberon at that time, still young, to fight beside him.
"I know I can always rely on you in times like this. Still, I hope I can thank the person or unknown group that is helping our side. It was impressive that Riveria-sama had such leeway in Rakkia, and I may have underestimated her goddess Loki, or all of this was your son doing?"
"I will ask him later, Hyrmr, but I had no wish to involve him in this war after all; monsters are different than humans."
The first thing that news came about the incoming invasion of Rakkia was that the first thing that crossed Levos and Viska's minds was how to not make their son get involved in such carnage.
Hyrmr did know Levos had been pushing himself to do everything he could as a father not to let his son get involved. Even Viska insisted on coming with him but stopped knowing that she needed to watch over Wishe Forest.
"My son may have already prepared for such an eventuality, but no parent wants to see their child soaked with blood."
"For that reason, I guess we both had to work the best as we could as Father and an aunt."
"Thank you, Hyrmr."
Levos showed her with his most genuine smile.
----
Far west of the Alv mountain, passing the dangerous Beol mountain, lay one of the most powerful countries called Rakkia, led by King 'Martinus Rakkia,' whose people considered him only a figurehead. Thanks to that, they nicknamed him the 'Foolish King.' However, none dare to call that nickname. Only a small number of nobles and close associates know that achievement, all thanks to the challenging work of goddess Phobos, who is the only one who knows how to put restraint on Ares.
"Huff, Huff,"
One of the massagers ran through the gate and went to the main castle of Rakkia, where the King's throne is. Just as he arrived inside the castle, he was welcomed by a full-plate soldier in perfect lane holding a spear, but none of the dark armored soldiers stopped him as he sprinted to the throne room.
(SLAM!)
"ARES-SAMA!"
Just when he arrived, near to the throne, he dropped his knees and tried to catch the air; his lungs felt almost empty because of the long run.
"Make it quick."
The god stared down at the mortal. Ares has a similar look to Oberon from their golden hair; however, Ares's red eyes are dimmer compared to Oberon's bright emerald, red eyes. His tone alone showed no regard toward the weak mortal that still tried to grasp air and looked displeased to make to wait just for mere minutes for the messenger to able to speak.
"*gasp* my apology, Ares-sama. I want to report that the raid team sent by King Martinus is all wiped out."
(Slam!)
"What did you say!?"
The throne room started to shake because of the pressure emitted from the god of war, Ares.
"That useless bastard."
"B-but Ares-sama Martinus-sama, just follow your order."
"Did you say that I am ordering him to let my best man get killed!?"
Ares stares down with murderous intent, making the messengers kneel, drop their heads to the ground, and beg for God's forgiveness. Ares just sat back to his throne and thought his next move should be, however, knowing that none of the raid groups sent to capture hostages were killed and none were managed to escape has never happened before in their confrontation with the elves.
"There is something wrong here with such a magic sword at their disposal; at least there is a survivor, Marius!"
"I am here, Ares-sama."
A young blonde-haired boy stood in front of Ares without dropping his knees, as he was one of the successors of the throne, none other than 'Marius Victrix Rakkia,' the direct son of the current king.
"You may still be seven, but I want you to watch over your father. Not like him, you are far smarter."
Ares could see displeasure written over the young boy's face.
"I am still too young to join in the battle, and if I and my father have died, who will take the throne, Ares-sama?"
"Hm! I do not ask you and your father to fight on the frontlines. As the future king, you must have experience in the real war soon or later."
Seeing no escape, the young prince could only accept with great displeasure; however, the young boy knows the war only started when the god of war, Ares, came and that the time will come when war starts.
"I will accept your order, Ares-sama, but I want to know when Ares-sama came to the battlefield."
"That me and Phobos will decide. That goddess is worthless; why did she take it so long?"
Marius is irritated knowing that, not for the hard work of goddess Phobos, Rakkia never stood where they stood right now. Comparing her to Ares, she was far more contributing to Rakkia than Ares in every way. That is why Phobos is well respected among the noble and the common people, but not in the military, where Ares mostly held close control of it.
"Last time the letter was sent by Phobos-sama, she was looking for a blacksmith or something."
"Is that so? Then Marius go and help your father. I want you to arrive before night comes."
"As your wish, Ares-sama."
----
~ (Oberon POV) ~
It had been four days since Oberon and his party went to the middle, all explored by them in less than a week. It is a rare feat to be archived by a beginner's adventurers. When they took the last step of the stairs, they arrived on the surface and were welcomed by gazing eyes on them from every adventurer.
While everyone started to feel relief and congratulate each other for their amazing feat, Oberon tried to put on a smile, but his mind was still concerned about something. When they leave the tower of Babel, there is one tall man singled out from the crowd who stops to see the most famous rookie, the Radiant.
"I am sorry everyone, just a little more. We need to exchange the material."
I keep my magic eyes active and look for any sign of Evilus that is hiding among the crowd. Since the time we are inside the dungeon, we constantly feel like being watched, but we do not know who or for what reason.
"Oberon, what are you going to do after this?"
"There are a lot of things to do, but it is for tomorrow."
Sera knows there is something that happened that made Oberon rush the time to leave the dungeon; she did ask Alicia about it, and it seems possible that Oberon is worried about the incoming Rakkia invasion.
As we walked through the crowd and before we arrived at the guild, we passed by the Hephaestus Familia shop. It seemed Sera and Rethusa were looking interested in a weapon that was being displayed.
"If you like, I will make some requested weapons for both of you."
"Hm, after that crazy fight, I did feel like I needed some upgrades with my spear. Tomorrow, before we leave Orario, we will be busy shopping stuff."
It took us half an hour of walking to arrive at the guild office. As we arrived, I could see the guild was not so crowded because it was still midday, and I could see Rose already prepared for our arrival.
"Welcome back, Oberon-sama."
"Just Oberon Rose."
"I- I am sorry, Oberon. Please put your bag on here."
Orstrid then put a material that was eight times her weight on the table; just as it touched the surface, it left a cracking noise.
"Please send the money later to my goddess Rose."
"I understand Oberon."
I planned to share most of the revenue with Artemis and Iduun Familia because they are much more needed than I do, and Loki already accepted my decision. After finishing with the report and everything the guild demanded, we headed to the manor, and Sera and others were living not so far from Twilight Manor.
"I wonder how much stats that I gained. You are really pushing us to our limit, Oberon."
Rethusa said while inspecting her spear to get a couple of brushes and a small missing part of her main blade.
"I believe it should be sufficient enough for you all to level up if I have not made any mistake in calculation."
"Hmm, you are always like that, aren't you? Sera, you will have plenty of rivals."
Sera and others did realize a large number of females tried to catch Oberon's attention and ignored her and others, but she tried not to put it in her mind because Oberon was high-elf and did not know him well.
"You are right, but I am worried about those murdering gazes from the man. Oberon, are you sure they are not Evilus?"
"I am not sure, Sera. From my magic eyes, they all had a gray aura; if they had a pitch black, they must be one of them. They are now aware I could catch them with some kind of ability."
'It must be an order from higher up to not get involved with me; even with many baits I set up, they are not baiting it, but they are not my main problem at least for now.'
"Just keep your alert and never go anywhere alone, especially at night, especially you, Sera. The Apophis Familia remnant is here, and they will exact revenge once again."
"Vita did not fight me directly that night; she just used a dirty trick to take me down, but next time will be different."
----
"OBERONNN!"
Loki darted forward while calling my name, and just that she gave me the most powerful embrace she could, and yes, I did not feel anything pressing my chest.
"*ugh* I am home, Loki and Riveria-san."
Riveria, already aware of my arrival, stood in front of the manor, while Ais continued to hold the small heart sword I had made for her.
"Welcome home, Oberon, Orstrid, and Alicia. Where are others?"
"Sera, Rethusa, and others are already gone to their goddess."
"Mm…"
Seeing Loki just rub her body on Oberon, Alicia starts to drag back her goddess, seeing inappropriate behavior catch a couple of eyes of civilians. Just she pulled Loki Ais to take her place to give me a warm embrace.
"I am home, Ais-chan."
"Um."
Just as I patted Ais's head gently, I laid my gaze toward Riveria. Seeing my fixed expression, she realized there was something important that was happening.
"There is something I had to discuss with you, Riveria-san."
"Sure, we will talk in my room. Alicia, please take care, Ais."
"As your command, Riveria-sama. Let us go, Ais-chan."
"Oberon, Loki-sama will take part, is that okay for you?"
"I think it is for the best."
After four days, everything was in order; there was nothing that bad that happened in those extended days. I did tell both Loki and Riveria about the time someone was watching us, but we could not catch them because of how well they were evading my eyes and Orstrid radar.
"There is a high chance they tried to measure your fighting capability."
"I did think the same Loki-sama. That is why I limit my involvement in the fight and let Sera, Orstrid, and others manage most of the fight."
"Kukuku~ good as expected from my child. Hide your fang from your enemy until they have appeared; that is the best course of action. All their eyes are on you, so keep your Trump card close to your chest."
"Still, it was something to be considered to be a big threat for us Loki-sama if the enemy has such capability."
Riveria's worries are understandable; if the enemy could watch our movement without being able to catch them, something must be managed as soon as possible.
"Hmm, we are not a hundred percent sure they are Evilus. It may be just some random spy who tried to gather information about you. Information like that could be sold at a high price in the market, but do not be mistaken, I will not let any stalker of my children walk freely."
Loki's shutting eyes and her sinister smile written all over her face could make everyone feel a bit of chill in their bones.
"However, you both had bigger problems in mind, right?"
Loki knows no problem could give us a tough time sleeping knowing our home will be invaded. Loki is aware of that. When we arrived in Riveria's room, I put a soundproof barrier in precautions. Orstrid will guard outside in case somebody needs us. Loki then sat first, put her hands together, and gazed both on the two of her children.
"Now, let's make a plan, shall we?"
The goddess of tricksters speaks with her usual sinister smile.